Keyless switch



A. HIRT KEYLESS SWITCH May 10, 1932,

Filed 001;.

chine may be broken and Patented May 10, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ANDREW HIRT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KEYLESS SWITCH Application filed. October 20, 1928. Serial No. 313,778.

' This invention relates to keyless lock and in particular to a'combination lock for use in connection with the dashboard of a motor vehicle'sothat the electric circuit of the mamay only be completed .by one having a proper knowledge of the operation of the circuit breaker.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a combination keyless switch upon which is mounted a number of combination dials, the dials themselves having circuit completing members which when properly manipulated complete a cincuit through the switch so that operation of the vehicle can take place.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combination keyless switch, parts of which may be rearranged without ditficulty to change the combination. The switch is so constructed that in some of the dials there are buried current conducting rings whose ends extend to the peripheral edges of the dials, or rather the dial extensions within the switch, the projecting edges of the circuit completing members being arranged to co-operate or register with the ends of suitable members which form a circuit through the combination switch.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying features of my invention, that they may embody the same in the'various modifications in structure and relation contemplated, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and in such drawings similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which,

Figure 1' is a fragmentary view of the dashboard of an automobile, illustrating the position thereon of my improved combination keyless switch,

- Figure 2 is a switch constructed in vention, s

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, with the reverse side of the panel shown, the dial members carrying buttons some of which are face view of the combination accordance with my inarranged to carry circuit completing elements,

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4:4: of Figure 2, and shows the construction of one of the dial members,

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken through one of the guide bosses, showing the slot therein through the medium of which the cover is secured in place upon the panel, and,

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the con tact strip one end of which is arranged to be engaged by a suitable binding post while the other end is arranged to have sliding contact with ring extensions carried by the dial members.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 in dicates a panel in which are revolvably mounted the dial members 6, suitable openings being provided as indicated by the numeral 7 in the face of the panel for the reception of the dial plugs 8 which are formed integrally with the dial members 6 and are arranged to receive the threaded end of the screws 9 each one of which is secured through the dial member to the dial button 10. This dial button is revolvably mounted, with the dial member, relatively to the panel 5, and it has embedded therein the contact ring 11 which is made of any suitable conducting metal such as for instance, copper, the ring being provided with the radial extension 12 which extends to the periphery of the dial button 10. In the formation of these dial buttons the ring 11 is of course moulded in the button so that only the outer end of the ring extensions are exposed. It is to be understood, of course, that the entirestructure, that is the panel, the dial member and the dial buttons, are made of insulating material such for instance as bakelite, hard rubber or the like.

Arranged in suitable relation about the center of the panel 5 are the bushings 13, which are moulded or pressed into said panel and arranged to receive the threaded end 14; of suitable binding posts 15. These binding posts are round as illustrated in Figure 3, although they may be of any suitable shape, being provided with a. suitable wire receiving opening 16 in which the conducting wire 17 is positioned, the same being held in place through the medium of the contact screw 18. These binding posts 15 are so arranged that am .l h bo se 28, amend he one will be adjacent to each of the dial buttons 10, it being understood that all of the working mechanism will be on the inner face 19 of the panel 5. The binding post 15 serves two purposes, that is it holds the end of the wire 17 in its upper portion and it secures the end 20 of a contact strip in position against the inner face 1 9v of the panel. This co'i'itact'strip i's madeof a suitable conducting material and is provided with a piercing lip 21. the material of the center portion ofthe strip 22, and is arranged to engage the inner face of the panel to prevent sidewise movement of the strip. The free'end 'of the strip 1s bent upon itself as at 23, so that itsring extension en agi g end 24 will beat a. higher level. than the mid-portion. This difference is provided; so that portion 24 will engage theextension of the contact ringll which is' embeddedj in the periphery of the button I0. "In referring' to the wire 17 it will be noted'that this numeral does not designate anyparticular' wire but any or all of the wires that connect with the binding posts. Itwill be further noted with reference to Figure 3 that while'the'ring extension 12 for one of theouter dial members is rela tivfel fcl jse together, the extensions 12on the/central dial member. are diametrically ()ppos iteeach other, this being necessary in or dergfliat, a circuitv may be coin'ple ted across the' dial asrwill be hereinafter described.

In ardermhati workingparts' maybe protegt'edjfrorn dust or moisture, I provide a casihgior cove11125. This casing is provided on'jits 'inner'fflang'ed surface with pegs 26,,

are arranged toengage, with slot's 27f bosses 28 which are cast. edge of provided in .thegui'de I integral with and adjacent tothe are 5'. These slots' 27' are in the form offthe'jfwell' known bayonetfslot, sq that the cover orfcasingjmay be g vena slight turn tol lo ck the pins 36 in position in the bosses.

As a further means ofholding the casing in.

p 'o'sit'ion' linontheIpanel, use is made of set screws 2'9 which thread through the flanged i ri lto Fig ulf 3 it willber lo t that,

the lea-d inr wires 31 from v the source of powerjarelconnected to the binding posts 32 andf 3b fronrthe latter of whichfiX bnds a wire l'l which pa sses througha suitable open;

This lip is. punched out of.

' of thischaracter the Peri hery of the casing to another binding post 34 which in turn is connected through the medium of the wire 35 with one side of a key operated switch 36. The opposite wire 37 of the circuit, after it passes through lighting and ignition sytems, is brought back into the switch and connected to. the binding posts 38. These binding posts 38 and 32am connected through the medium of the wires 17 to the binding posts 15 and, as noted in Figure 3, h se binding'posts secure one or more contact strips 22 in place so that their free ends rubagaihst the periphery of the buttons 10, in someof which only the contact rings 11 are carried. Referring 'to Figure 2 it will be noted in readin the samein connection wi th Figure 3 that t arethe only ones 7 the contact ringso that it is. s mply neceflfly for the operator of the car toremen ber the three letter combination, may set thedials tothe that contact will madefbetiween the lee endsof the Inembers22 engagin the dialsA? B or C. The other dialsbein ,b ank ma}; course, be, manipulated at wi 1 without av. ing any effect upon thecircuit, beingall numbered alike it. would be. practically;im-. the co'rnbL.

possible for any one not knowin nation to strikeupon the right d1als,and get the right-numbers, to complete a circuit.

h se of e ey per ed, w h n an-.

nection with the, .wires 35 and 37;canOfCQ\1r be eliminatedifldesired, ithavin been illus 00 v b inco por ed in th irc i as In the event thatanybpdyshoald learn the:

combination, the. owner may immediately. e ng the me ym mev the crew: and interchanging oneof; thev Tal, .i;membets,.

or buttons 10, so that itwill bein difierent'u location. and consequently .the.num,be s for its ope ation will; be, difierent due'tq' the lar position at which the extension 1 2 offthe,;

ring 11 will bewdispp setting.

eldailsmarked A, B: and C. that haveielnbedded, therein.

n der that he. P pe eading .0-

for use .with the. combi-,.

sedg uring h proper It isjquite .evidentthat in: a construotion,

While. I h vel lstmts a d. d sc bedmy 1 particularity,

invention with some degree of I realize that inpraetiee VBJIQHS alterations pa m madeup 9.. that they are, interchangeab e. nd may be made ofa simplified nature so that the cost;

.is also evident in ,a.,construc,-

9 nbinatipn: 1 em y' e. I

.tobreflk, the gnition A therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction, or otherwise altering the arrangement of the co-related 5 parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. In a keyless switch of the character described, a housing, a contact post, a contact ring having an extension thereon, a contact strip having one end thereof secured to the 5 housing by the post, a piercing lip on the strip, and the end of the strip being bent out of the plane of the center portion thereof to engage said ring extension.

2. In a keyless switch of the character de- 2 scribed, a housing, a contact post, a. contact ring having an extension thereon, a contact strip having one end thereof secured to the housing by the post, and having a center portion, and a contact end, a piercing lip on the center portion, and the contacting end of the strip being bent out of the plane of the center portion thereof to engage said ring extension.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ANDREW HIRT. [1 s.] 

